Ritesh Airtel Report

125
A On “CUSTOMER “CUSTOMER ACQUISITION ACQUISITION & RETENTION RETENTION OF AIRTEL CUSTOMER OF AIRTEL CUSTOMER IN DELHI” IN DELHI” Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the Degree of MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Submitted To: Submitted By: Dr. S.S.Paul Director(MBA) IIMT ENG. COLLEGE. Ritesh Yadav MBA(3 rd Sem) Roll No. - 1 -

Transcript of Ritesh Airtel Report

Page 1: Ritesh Airtel Report

A

On

“CUSTOMER “CUSTOMER ACQUISITION ACQUISITION && RETENTION RETENTION OF AIRTELOF AIRTEL CUSTOMER IN DELHI”CUSTOMER IN DELHI”

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirement of the Degree of

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Submitted To: Submitted By: Dr. S.S.PaulDirector(MBA)IIMT ENG. COLLEGE.

Ritesh YadavMBA(3rd Sem) Roll No.

(Approved by AICTE, Affiliated toUTTAR PRADESH TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY LUCKNOW)

- 1 -

Page 2: Ritesh Airtel Report

COMPANY CERTIFICATE

- 2 -

Page 3: Ritesh Airtel Report

COLLEGE CERTIFICATE

- 3 -

Page 4: Ritesh Airtel Report

DECLARATION

I RITESH KUMAR YADAV hereby declare that the project entitled

“CUSTOMER ACQUISITION & RETENTION OF AIRTEL CUSTOMER IN

DELHI” is my original work, done by me.

Now it is an asset of IIMT ENGINEERING COLLEGE, Meerut All the

rights for using this project report lie with the institute. Unauthorized copying,

hiring, broadcasting, or rental of this project without permission from the

institute will be considered illegal.

DATE: RITESH KUMAR YADAVPLACE:

- 4 -

Page 5: Ritesh Airtel Report

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Presenting a Summer Training project of this type is an arduous task, demanding a lot

of time. I cannot in full measure reciprocate the kindness shown and contribution made by

various persons in this endeavor. I will remember all of them with gratitude.

My sincere thanks towards Mr. ANAND PRIYA DE ASM -Airtel, DELHI), for

giving me a chance to take this project and for her valuable guidance, which helped me on all

those points, which I needed to include in, with full intensity , for his significant support

extended for the successful completion of the project

I am extremely gratified to Mr. RAHUL SINGH (T.L., Airtel), who was extremely

helpful in offering his professional expertise and bestowing me practical knowledge in all

spheres related to the whole organization working.

I am very grateful to our Director Dr. S.S.Paul; H.O.D Mr. Sandeep Kumar, and

all faculty members for their excellent guidance in the completion of my project work

I am always beholden to my God, for always being with me and showing me the right

ways, my family members, for always doing favors to me and my friends and colleagues

consistently helped with encouragement and criticism throughout the project work, for

always lifting my sights to higher vision, raising my personality beyond normal limitation

and for realizing me my strengths and potential, specially my brother, as I did not always

welcome her exhortation, “try again; you can do better.” But this project owes a great deal to

it – and so do I.

RITESH KUMAR YADAV

- 5 -

Page 6: Ritesh Airtel Report

PREFACE

It’s a thing of massive gratification for me to present this Summer Training Project

Report on the topic “ Customer Acquisition & retention of airtel customer in Delhi ”

completed in an unrivaled organisation ‘AIRTEL, at DELHI'.

Mobile telephony adoption is on the rise and recent technological innovations have

dramatically enhanced the capabilities of the wireless telephone. Leveraging the power of

these new capabilities, various business sectors are working together to offer a wide array of

services. Each sector is looking for the next "killer application," yet we are still learning

about people's information and communication needs while "on the go."

The goal of this two-months training is to bring together an international group of 5-8

practitioners and researchers from various sectors of the mobile communications industry.

We will discuss the following topic areas and, prior to the workshop; invite participants to

identify specific issues that they feel are particularly relevant and timely.

I myself have for a long time deeply interested in studying consumer trends &

behavior towards mobile industry.

I know that even in the areas in which I have a little knowledge, I do not know

enough. There are new tasks in these areas for which I am not yet equipped with tested,

proven approaches and tools. New areas of challenge and new technology problems has

arisen, where I have done 7 little work so far and where I have so far only ignorance rather

than even a modicum of knowledge.

This project attempts to identify and define areas related to consumer behavior

regarding new connection services. It also attempts to develop at least first approach to these

areas, to think through policies, principles, and practices to accomplish the new tasks and to

satisfy the customer needs. By this practical training I am able to equip the manager with the

- 6 -

Page 7: Ritesh Airtel Report

understanding, the thinking, the knowledge, and the skills for todays and also for tomorrow’s

market exigency.

Initially I was just having the bookish knowledge about all Marketing policies,

practices and functions, but after joining this organization, I got most of the practical

knowledge. I have come to know, what actually happens in the organizations.

Though it is not possible to have the information of all the spheres in market, in such

a very short period, but I tried to get more and more about all functions and practices applied

in practical working, I have particularly stresses on.

This is the boom time for mobile industry. Youths are having keen flair for mobile

communication.

Now the mobile communications are the fastest growing industry. We can reach

to anyone, anywhere across world through mobile connectivity. Just look in the areas they’re

in; health, education, banking, insurance, travel, couriers, manufacturing, entertainment,

government, computer helpdesks- the list goes on market is going on global, & so the need of

communication is emerging day by day…

I saw that though the times are hard but if same thing innovative is done, people will get

more craze for that.

We are fast becoming a part of a new era of management. No longer does a manager

sit in an ivory tower and issue directives from a distance.

This study, complex as it is, has acquired new dimensions with the dynamic social

and technological changes of the past two decades. Changing technologies, cultural diversity,

more educated work force and awareness of rights and privileges have prompted a new look

at the entire organizational structures and systems.

- 7 -

Page 8: Ritesh Airtel Report

This project report has been painstakingly and thoroughly prepared to cover

extensively various facets – both micro as well as macro – of the field of telecommunication

marketing. Its coverage is broad and up to date and it is balanced in terms of concept and

application. Since customers are the most important asset of any organization, there is

increased emphasis on the need for understanding people in a manner to satisfy them through

quality of services. The language of the presentation is highly communicative so that it

becomes interesting and comprehensible.

This project is intended for a wide audience. It will be useful to not only the students

of management, marketing management and consumer behavior, but also to the people in any

other field and management practitioners who want to understand and enrich their

understanding of consumer trends & effectively manage their sales.

RITESH KUMAR YADAV

- 8 -

Page 9: Ritesh Airtel Report

- 9 -

Page 10: Ritesh Airtel Report

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Airtel comes to you from Bharti Cellular Limited - a part of the biggest private

integrated telecom conglomerate, Bharti Enterprises.

Bharti provides a range of telecom services, which include Cellular, Basic, Internet

and recently introduced National Long Distance. Bharti also manufactures and exports

telephone terminals and cordless phones. Apart from being the largest manufacturer of

telephone instruments in India, it is also the first company to export its products to the USA.

Bharti is the leading cellular service provider, with a footprint in 15 states covering all four

metros and more than 7 million satisfied customers

Bharti Tele-Ventures believes that the demand for mobile services in India will continue to

grow rapidly as a result of the following factors:

⇏        Lower tariffs and handset prices over time;

⇏        Growth in pre-paid customer category;

⇏        Greater economic growth and continued development of India's economy;

⇏         Higher quality mobile networks and services; and

⇏         Greater variety and usage of value added services

The project is based on the study of consumer trends, behaviour, preferences

and level of satisfaction in Airtel communication Ltd. The study was conducted in Delhi with

sample size of 50 and sample units were suppliers and

Consumer of mobile connection

“TABLE OF CONTENTS”

- 10 -

Page 11: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER – I

INTRODUCTION

COMPANY PROFILE

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

CHAPTER – II

BUSINESS & MARKETING STRATEGIES

COMPANY PLANS.

CHAPTER – III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

RESEARCH DESIGN

COLLECTION OF DATA

PRIMARY DATA

SECONDARY DATA

CHAPTER – IV

DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

SWOT ANALYSIS

FINDINGS

SUGGESTIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS

CONCLUSION

CHAPTER –V

APPENDIX

BIBLIOGRAPHY &QUESTIONNAIRE

- 11 -

Page 12: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

- 12 -

Page 13: Ritesh Airtel Report

TELECOM HISTORY SINCE 1842 TILL NOW

With the dramatic changes in interpersonal communication over the past decade, Internet

messaging has emerged as the primary medium for transferring information quickly,

inexpensively, and reliably. However, the growing popularity of wireless telephones has

added another dimension to the communications equation—mobility. As more Indians rely

on cellular communication, this market is expected to see explosive growth over the forecast

period.

Let’s have a review of telecommunication History:-

TELECOM HISTORY

1842: Wireless by conduction

1843: Early electromagnetic research, wireless by induction

1865: Induction and Dr. Loomis

Early radio discoveries

1879: D.E. Hughes and the first radio-telephone reception

1880: The photo phone and the first voice radio-telephone call

1880 to 1900: Radio development begins in earnest

1910: The first car-telephone

1924: The first car-mounted radio-telephone

1937: Early conventional radio-telephone development

The modern era begins

1946: The first commercial American radio-telephone service

- 13 -

Page 14: Ritesh Airtel Report

1947: Cellular systems first discussed

1948: The first automatic radio telephone service

1969: The first cellular radio system

1973: The Father of the cell phone

1978: First generation analog cellular systems begin

1980: Growth of Japanese cellular development

1981: NMT -- the first multinational cellular system

1982: The rise of GSM

1990: North America goes digital: IS-54

Prehistory (Birth to Bell Labs, 1924)

While puzzling over the mysteries of radio, many inventors worked concurrently on

power generation, telegraphs, lighting, and later, telephone. The thorough understanding of

electricity required to produce a reliable, practical radio system took a long time and

happened in different phases.

In 1820, Danish physicist Christian Ousted discovered electromagnetism, the science that

could help generate electrical power and, if fully understood and applied, usher in the era of

telecommunication.

Michael Faraday - 1791 to 1867

- 14 -

Page 15: Ritesh Airtel Report

In 1821 Michael Faraday reversed Oberstar’s experiment and in so doing discovered

induction. This helped him build the world's first electricity generator. He worked on

different electrical problems in the next ten years, eventually publishing his results on

induction in 1831.

Joseph Henry - 1797 to 1878

In 1830 the great American scientist Professor Joseph Henry transmitted the first

practical electrical signal; showing that electromagnetism could do more than just create

current or pick up heavy weights -- it could communicate. In a stunning demonstration in his

Albany Academy classroom, Henry created the forerunner of the telegraph. While Henry did

not pursue electrical signaling, he did help someone who did. And that man was Samuel

Finley Breese Morse.

Samuel Morse - 1791 to 1872

In 1837 Samuel Morse invented the first practical telegraph, applied for its patent in

1838 and was finally granted it in 1848. Joseph Henry helped Morse build a telegraph relay

or repeater that allowed long distance operation. The telegraph brought the country closer and

eventually the world. Morse also experimented with wireless, not by passing signals though

the atmosphere but through the earth and water. Without a cable.

Wireless by conduction

- 15 -

Page 16: Ritesh Airtel Report

On October 18, 1842, Morse laid wires between Governor's Island and Castle

Garden, New York, a distance of about a mile. Part of that circuit was under water. But

before he could complete this demonstration a passing ship pulled up his cable, ending it

seemed, his experiment. Undaunted, Morse proceeded without the cable, passing his

telegraph signals through the water itself. This is wireless by conduction.

Over the next thirty years most inventors and developers concentrated on wire line

telegraphy, that is, conventional telegraphy carried over wires suspended on poles. Few

tinkered exclusively with wireless since a basic radio theory had not yet been worked out.

Telegraphy, however, did produce a good understanding of wireless by induction since wires

ran parallel to each other and often induced rogue currents into other lines.

Early electromagnetic research

In 1843 Faraday began intensive research into whether space could conduct

electricity.

In 1864 Maxwell released his paper "Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic

Field" which concluded that light, electricity and magnetism were all related and that all

electromagnetic phenomena travelled in waves.

Induction and Dr. Loomis

- 16 -

Page 17: Ritesh Airtel Report

In 1865, a dentist Dr. Mahlon Loomis of Virginia may have been the first person to

communicate through wireless via the atmosphere. Between 1866 and 1873 he transmitted

telegraphic messages at a distance of 18 miles. At one location he even flew a metal-framed

kite on a metal wire, perhaps taking inspiration from Benjamin Franklin. At another location

a similar kite picked up these signals and noted them with a galvanometer.

Early radio discoveries

Maxwell's 1864 conclusions were distributed around the world and created a

sensation. But it was not until 1888 that Professor Heinrich Hertz of Bonn, Germany, could

produce and detect radio waves consistently and reliably.

On November 22, 1875, while working on acoustical telegraphy, a science close to

telephony, Thomas Alva Edison noticed unusual looking electro-magnetic sparks.

D.E. Hughes and the first radio-telephone reception

From 1879 to 1886, London-born David Hughes discovered radio waves but was told

incorrectly that he had discovered no such thing. Discouraged, he pursued radio no further.

Hughes noticed a clicking noise in his home built telephone each time he worked

using his induction balance, a device now often used as a metal detector. He transmitted

signals from one room to another in his house in London. But since the greatest range there

was about 60 feet, Hughes took to the streets with his telephone, intently listening for the

clicking produced by his clockwork transmitter, gradually diminishing until it no longer

could be heard.

Alexander Graham Bell was the man who invented the telephone and made the first

call on a wired telephone to Thomas Watson. Bell was also first with radio.

- 17 -

Page 18: Ritesh Airtel Report

1888 onwards: Radio development begins in earnest

In 1888 the German, Heinrich Hertz, conclusively proved Maxwell's prediction that

electricity could travel in waves through the atmosphere. Unlike Hughes, the extensive and

systematic experiments into radio waves that Hertz conducted were recognised and validated

by inventors around the world.

Jagadish Chandra Bose demonstrated electromagnetic waves in 1895 "by using them to ring a

bell remotely and to explode some gunpowder".

Marconi established the first successful radio system. In 1901, his radio-telegraph

system sent signals across the Atlantic Ocean. Ships were the first wireless mobile platforms.

In 1901 Marconi placed a radio aboard a Thorny croft steam-powered truck, thus producing

the first land-based wireless mobile transmitting data, not voice.

In December 24, 1906, Reginald Fessenden accomplished the first radio bandwave

communication of human speech over a distance of 11 miles, from Brant Rock,

Massachusetts, to ships in the Atlantic Ocean. Radio was no longer limited to telegraph

codes, no longer just a wireless telegraph, but a means of verbal communication.

The first car-telephone

From 1910 onwards, Lars Magnus Ericsson, the man who founded Ericsson in

1876, and his wife Hilda, regularly worked the first car telephone. Access was not by radio,

instead there were two long sticks, like fishing rods, handled by Hilda. She would hook them

over a pair of telephone wires, seeking a pair that was free. When they were found, Lars

- 18 -

Page 19: Ritesh Airtel Report

Magnus would crank the dynamo handle of the telephone, which produced a signal to an

operator in the nearest exchange.

Around the same time, the triode tube was developed, allowing far greater signal

strength to be developed both for wireline and wireless telephony. No longer passive like a

crystal set, a triode was powered by an external source, which provided much better reception

and volume.

Later, with Armstrong's regenerative circuit, tubes were developed that could either

transmit or receive signals, were stable and powerful enough to carry the human voice and

sensitive enough to detect those signals in the radio spectrum.

In 1919, three firms came together to develop a wireless company that one day would

have a reach across the globe. Heavy equipment maker ASEA, boiler and gas equipment

maker AGA and telephone manufacturer LM Ericsson, formed SRA Radio, the forerunner of

Ericsson's radio division.

The first car-mounted radio-telephone

Bell Laboratories claims to have invented the first version of a mobile in 1924. It was

a two-way, voice-based radio-telephone and the adjoining photograph from their site

certainly seems to confirm it.

- 19 -

Page 20: Ritesh Airtel Report

History of cellular mobile telephony: 1982 to 2001

1980 - First cellular phones began to appear

1982 - Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT) standard

1983 - American Mobile Phone System (AMPS) standard

1986 - Nordic Mobile Telephony (NMT) 900 MHz

1991 - Commercial launch of the GSM service

1993 - Coverage of main roads GSM services start outside Europe

1994 - Japanese Digital Cellular (JDC)

1996 - USA Personal Communications Systems (PCS)

1982 - The beginning

During the early 1980s, analog cellular telephone systems experienced rapid growth

in Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, but also in France and

Germany. Each country developed its own system, which was incompatible with those of

others, in equipment and operation. This was an undesirable situation, because not only was

the mobile equipment limited to operation within national boundaries, but also limited to the

market for each type of equipment. This scenario in a unified Europe was undesirable.

The Europeans realized this early on, and in 1982, the Conference of European Posts

and Telegraphs (CEPT) form a study group called the Group Special Mobile (GSM) to study

and develop a pan-European public land mobile system. The proposed system had to meet

certain criteria, which included:

1. Good subjective speech quality.

2. Low terminal and service cost.

- 20 -

Page 21: Ritesh Airtel Report

3. Support for international roaming.

4. Ability to support handheld terminals.

5. Support for a range of new services and facilities.

6. Spectral efficiency

7. ISDN compatibility.

Nordic Telecom and Netherlands PTT proposed to the CEPT the development of a

new digital cellular standard that would cope with the ever-burgeoning demands on European

mobile networks. The European Commission (EC) issued a directive which required member

states to reserve frequencies in the 900 MHz band for GSM to allow for roaming.

1986 Main GSM radio transmission techniques were chosen.

1987 September - 13 operators and administrators from 12 areas in the CEPT GSM advisory

group signed the charter GSM (Groupe Spéciale Mobile) MoU "Club" agreement, with a

launch date of 1 July 1991.

The original French name Groupe Spéciale Mobile was changed to Global System for Mobile

communications; but the original GSM acronym remains.

GSM SPECIFICATIONS WERE DRAFTED.

1989 – 1998

In 1989, GSM responsibility was transferred to the European Telecommunication

Standards Institute (ETSI), and phase I of the GSM specifications was published in 1990.

Commercial services started in mid 1991, and by 1993 there were 36 GSM networks in 22

countries, with 25 additional countries like South Africa, Australia and many Middle and Far

East countries opting for GSM. By the beginning of 1994, there were 1.3 million subscribers

worldwide.

- 21 -

Page 22: Ritesh Airtel Report

The developers of GSM chose an unproven (at that time) digital system, as opposed to

the then standard analog cellular systems like AMPS in the United States and TACS in the

United Kingdom. They had faith in the advancements in compression algorithms and digital

signal processors to allow the fulfillment of the original criteria and the continual

improvement of the system in terms of quality and cost.

The European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) defined GSM as the

internationally accepted digital cellular telephony standard.

1990

Phase 1 GSM 900 specifications were frozen

DCS adaptation started.

Validation systems implemented.

First GSM World congress at Rome had 650 participants.

1991

First GSM specification was demonstrated.

DCS specifications were frozen.

GSM World Congress at Nice had 690 participants.

1992

January - The first GSM network operator was Oy Radiolinja Ab in Finland.

December 1992 - 13 networks were on air in 7 areas.

GSM World Congress at Berlin had 630 participants.

- 22 -

Page 23: Ritesh Airtel Report

1993

GSM was demonstrated for the first time in Africa at Telkom '93 in Cape Town.

Roaming agreements between several operators were established.

By December 1993, 32 networks were on air in 18 areas.

GSM World Congress at Lisbon progressed with 760 participants.

Telkom '93 was held in Cape Town. First GSM systems were shown.

1994

First GSM networks in Africa were launched in South Africa.

Phase 2 data /fax bearer services were launched.

Vodacom became the first GSM network in the world to implement data/fax.

GSM World Congress at Athens drew 780 participants.

December 1994 -- 69 networks were on air in 43 areas.

1995

GSM MOU was formally registered as an association registered in Switzerland with 156

members from 86 areas.

GSM World Congress at Madrid attracted 1400 participants.

December 1995 - 117 networks were on air in 69 areas.

Fax, Data and SMS roaming started.

GSM phase 2 standardisation was completed, including adaptation for PCS 1900.

First PCS 1900 network was shown live 'on air' in the USA.

Telecom '95, Geneva -- Nokia shows 33.6 kbps multimedia data via GSM.

Namibia goes on-line.

Ericsson 337 wins GSM ‘phone of the year’.

US FCC auctioned off PCS licenses.

- 23 -

Page 24: Ritesh Airtel Report

1996

December 1996 - 120 networks were on air in 84 areas.

GSM World Congress was held in Cannes.

GSM MOU Plenary was held in Atlanta GA, USA.

8K SIM was launched.

Pre-paid GSM SIM cards were launched.

Bundled billing was introduced in South Africa.

Libya goes on-line.

Option International launches the world's first GSM/Fixed-line modem.

2001

Feb -- GSM Conference held in Cannes.

By May 2001 there were 500m GSM 900/1800/1900 users worldwide.

16 billion SMS messages were sent in April 2001.

By April, 500 million people are GSM users.

- 24 -

Page 25: Ritesh Airtel Report

COMPANY PROFILE

Airtel comes to you from Bharti Cellular Limited - a part of the biggest private

integrated telecom conglomerate, Bharti Enterprises.

Bharti provides a range of telecom services, which include Cellular, Basic, Internet

and recently introduced National Long Distance. Bharti also manufactures and exports

telephone terminals and cordless phones. Apart from being the largest manufacturer of

telephone instruments in India, it is also the first company to export its products to the USA.

Bharti is the leading cellular service provider, with a footprint in 15 states covering all four

metros and more than 7 million satisfied customers.

VISION:

To make mobile communications a way of life and be the customers' first choice.

MISSION:

We will meet the mobile communication needs of our customers through:

•Error-free service delivery

•Innovative products and services

• Cost efficiency

• Unified Messaging Solutions

CORE VALUE:

We will delight our customer with our simplicity, speed & innovation.

We will honours our commitment.

We will follow the highest standard of professional integrity & behaviour.

We will respect individual, build winning teams and lead by example.

We will create a fun filled and friendly workplace.

- 25 -

Page 26: Ritesh Airtel Report

AIRTEL MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited was incorporated on July 7, 1995 for promoting

investments in telecommunications services. Its subsidiaries operate telecom services across

India. Bharti Tele-Ventures is India's leading private sector provider of telecommunications

services based on a strong customer base consisting of 7.42 million total customers, which

constitute, 6.76 million mobile and 657,000 fixed line customers, as of April 30, 2004.

Bharti Tele-Ventures vision for its mobile business is “To make mobile communications a

way of life and be the customers first choice”.

The mission is to meet the mobile communication needs of the customer through 1) error free

service 2) Innovative products and services and 3) cost efficiency. The Company’s strategic

objective is to consolidate its leadership position amongst the mobile service providers in

India.

The Indian mobile market, according to the COAI, has increased from approximately 1.2

million subscribers as of March 31, 1999 to approximately 29.21 million subscribers as of

June 30, 2004.

Despite this rapid growth, the mobile penetration rate in India, at approximately 2.8% as of

June 30, 2004, is significantly lower than the average mobile penetration rate in other Asian

and international markets.

The number of mobile subscribers in India is expected to show rapid growth over the next

four years. By 2006 it is projected at 50 million by COAI and 44 million by Gartner.

Bharti Tele-Ventures believes that the demand for mobile services in India will continue to

grow rapidly as a result of the following factors:

- 26 -

Page 27: Ritesh Airtel Report

⇏        Lower tariffs and handset prices over time;

⇏        Growth in pre-paid customer category;

⇏        Greater economic growth and continued development of India's economy;

⇏         Higher quality mobile networks and services; and

⇏         Greater variety and usage of value added services.

Bharti Tele-Ventures, through its subsidiary has the licenses to provide GSM services in all

the twenty-two telecom circles in India. It proposes to consolidate all its subsidiaries

providing mobile services under Bharti Cellular Limited.  

As of June 30, 2004, approximately 92% of India's total mobile subscriber market resided in

the Company's sixteen mobile circles, which collectively covered only 56% of India's land

mass.

AIRTEL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

A proper distribution system is very important for every company because now a days

the customer wants full service without any pain. Airtel has a deep penetration in the

market of prepaid cards, coupons, easy recharge and postpaid cards. I also seen in the

market the happy faces of customers and retailers of Airtel because of the easy

availability of Airtel cards and coupons.

BENEFITS OF GOOD DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

1. Easy availability

2. Satisfied customers

3. Competitive advantage

4. Better market reputation

5. Saves time

DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OF AIRTEL

- 27 -

Page 28: Ritesh Airtel Report

1. Organisation (C&FA's)

2. Distributor

3. Retailer

4. Customer

- 28 -

Page 29: Ritesh Airtel Report

- 29 -

Page 30: Ritesh Airtel Report

ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE

Organisation of AIRTEL provides services through FSO (Full Service Outlets) and

DSA (Direct Sales Agent)

“MANAGEMENT HIERARCHY AT AIRTEL”

THREE TYPES OF SALES:

1. Primary Sales - Organisation to Distribution of Prepaid, Postpaid Cards, Coupons,

easy recharge etc.

- 30 -

Page 31: Ritesh Airtel Report

2. Secondary Sales - Distributor to Retailers

3. Tertiary Sales - Retailer to Customer.

PROCEDURE OF ACTIVATION OF PREPAID CONNECTION:

Dealer (Confirms on 570)

FOS (Saw that the form is completed and has Accessory papers

Distributor (Activates the card)

PROCEDURE OF ACTIVATION OF POSTPAID CONNECTION:

Dealer (Collects of Cash and facilitates in Competition)

FOS (Collects the Form)

Distributor (Activates the card)

- 31 -

Page 32: Ritesh Airtel Report

MOBILE FOOTPRINT

The map below depicts the location of, and provides certain information for, Bharti Tele-

Ventures' existing mobile circles in India:

- 32 -

Page 33: Ritesh Airtel Report

SOURCE:

(1) Population estimates are as per National Census, 2001 and are as of March 1, 2001. The

population for Uttar Pradesh (West) circle is approximately 37% of the total population for

the state of Uttar Pradesh. 

(2) Mobile subscriber statistics are as of June 30, 2004 and are based on data released by

COAI. Mobile market size comprises the total number of mobile subscribers of all the service

providers in a circle.

(3) Demographics of Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu do not include demographics of state

capitals (metros) Mumbai and Chennai respectively.

(4) Demographics of Haryana does not include Faridabad & Gurgaon as they are included in

Delhi & NCR. Similarly demographics of Uttar Pradesh (West) & Uttaranchal does not

include Noida & Delhi as they are included in Delhi NCR.

The significant growth in the Company's mobile business has been through a combination of

organic growth and acquisitions of additional licenses and has been summarized below. The

information given below is for the total market and is not representative of our market share

or network coverage. 

1) Comprises the circles of Maharashtra and Goa.

2) Comprises the circles of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

3) Comprises the circles of Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and

Chennai.

4) Comprises the sixteen operational circles of Bharti Tele-Ventures.

5) Based on data released by the COAI on the total number of persons subscribing to

mobile services in our licensed areas. 

- 33 -

Page 34: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER 2

- 34 -

Page 35: Ritesh Airtel Report

BUSINESS & MARKETING STRATEGIES

Some Marketing And Business Tools Adopted By AIRTEL As To

Promote Its Activities:

Seminars: seminars are conducted at different places by the expert time by

time to make people aware.

Publicity: publicity is done through various media.

Stalls at famous places: they conduct their stall after a particular period of time

on the famous and public place to attract them towards themselves.

DSA (Direct Sales Agency)

Print media

Hoarding

Banners

Advertisement

Leaflets

Follow ups

By KNOP

- 35 -

Page 36: Ritesh Airtel Report

Mobile Strategy

Capture maximum telecommunications revenue potential with minimum

geographicalcoverage to maximise its revenues and margins.Build high quality mobile

networks by deploying state-of-the-art technology to offer superior services.

Use the experience it has gained from operating its existing mobile networks to develop and

operate other mobile networks in India and to share the expertise across all of its existing and

new Circles.

Attract and retain high revenue generating customers by providing competitive tariffs,

offering high quality customer support, proactive retention programs and roaming packages

across all of its mobile circles. 

Provide affordable tariff plans to suit each segment of the market with a view to expand the

reach, thereby increasing the mobile customer base rapidly.

Key highlights of Jan-04 are as follows:

Industry additions were up from the last month's 12.71 Lacks to 13.69 Lacs this month. In

percentage terms, this translates to a increase of 8 % in net adds over last month.

The number of subscribers moved up from 21.99 Mn at the end of Dec-03 to 23.36 Mn at the

end of Jan-04, a growth of 6.22 %.

All India monthly growth in subscriber numbers was 6.13 %. The growth elsewhere was :

· Metros – 5.28 %

· A circles – 6.22 %

· B circles – 7.75 %

· C circles – 3.43 %

- 36 -

Page 37: Ritesh Airtel Report

· All Circles Total – 6.67 %

· Airtel – 6.39 %

B Circle category has shown the highest growth in subscriber base on an individual basis

this month.

At Airtel, we have always sought to enhance value for you as a customer by providing you

the most relevant and easy to use services through innovation and by harnessing the latest

developments in technology. In line with this strategy, we have constantly introduced

innovative products and services to suit your unique needs and wants.

Our services range from CLI to Music Messaging to Lost Call Alerts – all to serve you

better.

Move your mouse over any service from the following menu to get a brief description on

what it is all about.

SMS

ASTROLOGY

RINGTONES

VOICE-MAIL

DAIL-A-RINGTONE

LOGOS

CALLER TUNES

MUSIC MESSAGING

FLASH MESSAGES

BLINKING MESSAGES

JOKES

LOVE JOKES

- 37 -

Page 38: Ritesh Airtel Report

YAHOO! MESSAGING

YAHOO! MAIL

NEWS UPDATES

SPORTS

CALLER IDENTIFICATION

“TRENDS IN MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS”

The growth and penetration of sophisticated digital communication systems, infrastructures,

and services, has been increasing constantly over the last decade. Examples of these services

are the Internet, electronic mail, multimedia, pagers, PDA's, and mobile telephony. From

marginal penetration 15 years ago, these systems and services are becoming a commodity in

both professional and consumer markets worldwide. The developments in these fields are still

going strong. In particular, rapid advances - both in technology and services - can currently

be observed in wireless and mobile systems that support the communication of different

media, such as data, speech, audio, video and control.

Current wireless network and mobile phone services roll-out is centered around four available

technologies, namely WAP, UMTS, Bluetooth, and mobile positioning systems. The wireless

application protocol (WAP), initially carried by second generation GSM and in the future by

third generation UMTS wireless networks, will turn the mobile phone into a networked

smart-phone capable of low to medium data rate Internet functionalities. Bluetooth will allow

for short-range data communication between consumer appliances in a domestic

environment. Positioning systems will become integral part of mobile phones such that

services can be made dependent on the location of the user in the network.

When projecting the progress in mobile networks and services into the future, three

developments are of importance. In the first place, we can observe that more and more

- 38 -

Page 39: Ritesh Airtel Report

mobile phone-like devices start to include accessories such as a small keyboard, a display,

and a speech interface. Such communication and information-oriented systems are emerging

as hybrids between the mobile phone and the wireless laptop personal computer. With higher

bit rates supporting more advanced services, the integration of the personal computer and

personal communication devices will be pushed even further.

In the second place, we observe that computing resources are becoming ubiquitously - that is

everywhere and at all time - available. We will soon live in an environment that supports us

by providing ubiquitous Computing for a wide variety of tasks and services. Daily life

consumables, durable products and services already contain an ever-increasing number of

sensors, actuators, processing units, and (embedded) software. The personal computer has

entered daily life as a necessary commodity, and the development of sophisticated

communication systems in today's society relies heavily on the availability of computation

resources.

Finally, we observe that communication and computing is becoming increasingly personal.

The device (and therefore the user) is always on-line, the user is identifiable, the device can

be personalized, and the system knows about the user’s position.

“CELLULAR MOBILE PRICING STRUCTURE AND

TRENDS”

Successful growth and diffusion of mobile communication services is focusing greater

attention on how mobile relates to fixed networks. Accordingly, it is necessary for regulatory

authorities to review current frameworks in those instances where regulation might impede

the offering of certain pricing structures, such as calling party pays. This issue is critical in

putting fixed and mobile networks on an equal footing, so the potential for competition

between networks can be exploited. Testing the demand for new pricing structures can be left

to the market. Successful growth and diffusion of mobile communication services is focusing

- 39 -

Page 40: Ritesh Airtel Report

greater attention on how mobile communication relates to the Internet and electronic

commerce. This report reviews and benchmarks the pricing of emerging services such as

short message services. These services are the harbingers of ? Third generation ? Information

services over mobile networks, and policy makers need to review current regulatory

frameworks to enhance pricing innovation and competition in the provision of these services.

- 40 -

Page 41: Ritesh Airtel Report

INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMIZATION

An important trend in our society is agility or mass individualization. Consumer behavior is

much more volatile, much less predictable and increasingly concerned with instant

gratification. The expectation is that in due course this trend towards individualization will

become a more important factor in the emerging markets too, particularly in the urban areas.

As well as setting quality standards for products, this attitude also demands delivery at the

right time and in the right place. At any moment, wherever the consumer may be, it has to be

possible to satisfy his or her requirements; it is a question of the consumer as a "moving

target" and how we can increase our chances of "scoring a hit".

In modern thinking about categories of consumers, every consumer has something of this

instant consumer in his or her make-up, alongside other possible descriptions, such as

"rational", "social" and "responsible". What's more, this can vary according to the product

category. One moment, moreover, this instant consumer will be demanding products on the

basis of flavor, convenience or cheapness, and in the next breath will be voicing concerns

about the environment, animal welfare or his or her own health. The likelihood is that in the

long term health, the environment and animal welfare will be significant factors in the

concept of quality, as safety already is.

Changes in consumption patterns are an important factor in this development. While the retail

trade is evolving from supermarket to household service provider in response to mass

individualization, consumers are increasingly also obtaining their food through other outlets:

company canteens, take-away meals, snack bars, old people's homes etc. "Young couples" in

Europe are rapidly moving towards the situation that already exists in the United States,

where 50% of the food consumed is prepared outside the home. This places different

demands on products in terms of keeping qualities (shelf life), convenience and presentation.

Consumer-driven technology development

- 41 -

Page 42: Ritesh Airtel Report

These trends in the market and among consumers generate a demand for a more differentiated

and more rapidly changing product range and also call for a different approach to technology

development (dedicated production systems). In the future there will have to be product

development that takes the dynamic of the market and the divergent wishes of the consumers

as its starting point and uses the technologies of the future: biotechnology, separations

technology, sensor technology and modern information technology (IT). To achieve this,

product development will have to be tackled in a more structured way, and knowledge

deriving from different areas of research will have to be integrated more effectively. The

development of sensor technology in the agro sector, for instance, requires the integration of

materials technology, biotechnology and process technology. New scientific developments

also provide interfaces through which the sector may respond to wishes relating to health:

both the information about genetic aspects and the new insights into bioactive components -

substances that, in low concentrations, affect human health - offer interesting prospects of

made-to-measure food!

In the future, "made-to-measure food" will also mean "food produced in a way that the public

finds socially acceptable". Such aspects as the environment, animal welfare etc. will play a

major role. This will have to be specifically taken into account in the development of

technology.

From chains to flexible networks

As well as imposing requirements in terms of technology development, trends such as mass

individualization call for a responsive answer to a sharply fluctuating market demand. This

places considerable demands on the organization of agricultural production chains. The full

vertical integration of links in a chain can mean a loss of flexibility. It would appear to be

more efficient to opt for a continuation of the development of the chain concept; leading to

- 42 -

Page 43: Ritesh Airtel Report

responsive networks that combine the advantage of co-ordination with the flexibility of more

loosely linked organizations. These independent organizations work closely together in the

flow of goods along the chain in order to achieve the desired "customer value" at the lowest

possible cost.

- 43 -

Page 44: Ritesh Airtel Report

‘COMPANY’S PLANS’

PREPAID PLANS

Are you wary of committing yourself to a date for making your bill payments?

Is it too much of a bother for you to remember dates for bill payments? Do you often

end up paying late fees against your monthly utility services bills? Do you end up

spending too much if you have the option to pay the bill later?

Think over for if one of these represents you, we have a solution for you. Start

thinking prepaid is our advise!

So what exactly is this prepaid! It is simply a way of going cellular by paying

for the talk time in advance. For e.g. if you feel that you need Rs. 300 worth of talktime

for a month, you can buy a recharge coupon which gives you that much talktime on

your cellphone. Once that money gets exhausted you can buy another recharge coupon

for the same or different denomination depending on your future need.

Prepaid allows you to be in control of your cellular expenses even while you are

spending. You will be surprised that today In India, Prepaid connections account for

almost 60 to 70 percent of the total new entrants into cellular telephony. That’s because

almost every one of us wants to be in control of our cellular expense.

Advantages of prepaid:

Some of the many advantages that you enjoy with Airtel Pre-Paid...

Total Cost Control

Enjoy the liberty of total cost control with your Airtel Pre-paid! Re-charge as

- 44 -

Page 45: Ritesh Airtel Report

much as you feel the need to! Now that's what we call complete freedom!

No Rentals

Buy an Airtel prepaid card without having to pay any rentals!

No deposits

Your Airtel prepaid card comes without you having to pay heafty deposits!

STD/ISD facility till the last rupee

Now experience complete freedom like never before with Airtel! Our STD/ISD

facility allows you to make long distance calls in India and Overseas from your

cellular phone!

Instant Balance Inquiry

Check your talk-time instantly by calling our toll-free number!

60 second pulse

Airtel provides you with a 60-second pulse rate! Freedom for you to experience

like never before!

Instant Recharge

Avail of instant recharge on your Airtel prepaid card with just a few simple

steps!

24-hour recharge facility

With our round-the-clock recharge facility, recharge you Airtel prepaid card

anytime, anywhere!

- 45 -

Page 46: Ritesh Airtel Report

Caller Line Identification

Call Line Identification gives you the power to know the phone number of the

calling party even before you answer the call, thus giving you the choice to

either reject or take the call. It provides the added advantage of saving the

incoming number directly in the Handset Phone Book. So that the next time

you want to call the same person, you don't need to retype his number,

simply use your phone book.

Call Divert, Call Hold and Call Wait

Avail of special services like call waiting, call hold and call divert – all with your

Airtel prepaid card!

Short Messaging Service (SMS)

With Airtel’s Short Messaging Service (SMS), send messages and jokes to your

friends and colleagues, anytime anywhere!

SMS based Information Services

With Airtel's SMS based information services; you can get up to-the-minute cricket

scores, order flowers as well as send couriers or check your daily horoscope!

Voice Mail service

Voice Mail lets you receive messages even when your handset is switched off or

when you are outside the coverage area. You can listen to your messages whenever

you feel like, from anywhere in the world. Voice Mail can store up to 75 messages,

with each message of two-minute duration.

- 46 -

Page 47: Ritesh Airtel Report

POST-PAID PLAN

Airtel welcomes you to a vibrant world of unlimited opportunities. More

exciting, innovative yet simple new ways to communicate, just when you want to, not

just through words but ideas, emotions and feelings. To give you the unlimited

freedom to reach out to your special people in your special way.

Post paid Plan:

New Airtel 150

- 47 -

Page 48: Ritesh Airtel Report

- 48 -

ONE TIME CHARGES (Rs.)

Activation Charges 250

Membership Fee 250 (converts into security after 24 months)

Security Deposit NA

MONTHLY CHARGES (FIXED) (Rs.)

Bill Plan Charge 150

MONTHLY CHARGES (OPTIONAL) (Rs.)

CLIP 50

Airtel Other GSM / CDMA (10 Digit)

Landline / WLL

LOCAL RATES (Rs. / Min) 1 1 1

STD RATES (Rs. / Min) 1.5 1.5 1.5

ISD (Rs. / Min)

USA, Canada, Europe (Fixed Line), Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand.

6.4

Gulf, Europe (Mobile), SAARC countries, Africa & Rest of the world

9.2

Cuba, Sao Tome & Principe, Guinea Bissau, Diego Garcia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Norfolk Island, Sakhalin

40

SMS (Rs.)

Local 1

CDMA 1

National 1.5

International 5

VAS 3.00

Page 49: Ritesh Airtel Report

New India Home 299

- 49 -

Page 50: Ritesh Airtel Report

- 50 -

ONE TIME CHARGES (Rs.)

Activation Charges 250

Membership Fee 250 ,converts into security deposit after 24 mnths

Security Deposit 0

MONTHLY CHARGES (FIXED) (Rs.)

Bill Plan Charge Rs.299

MONTHLY CHARGES (OPTIONAL) (Rs.)

CLIP 0

Airtel Other GSM / CDMA (10 Digit)

Landline / WLL

LOCAL RATES (Rs. / Min) 1Per 2 Minute

1 1

STD RATES (Rs. / Min) 1Per 1 Minute

1Per 1 Minute 1Per 1 Minute

ISD (Rs. / Min)

USA, Canada, Europe (Fixed Line), Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand.

6.4

Gulf, Europe (Mobile), SAARC countries, Africa & Rest of the world

9.2

Cuba, Sao Tome & Principe, Guinea Bissau, Diego Garcia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Norfolk Island, Sakhalin

40Rs

SMS (Rs.)

Local 1

CDMA 1

National 1

International 5

VAS 3

Page 51: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel 175 Plan

- 51 -

Page 52: Ritesh Airtel Report

- 52 -

ONE TIME CHARGES (Rs.)

Activation Charges Rs.250

Membership Fee Rs.250(converts to security deposit post 24 mnths)

Security Deposit NA

MONTHLY CHARGES (FIXED) (Rs.)

Bill Plan Charge 175

MONTHLY CHARGES (OPTIONAL) (Rs.)

CLIP 0

Airtel Other GSM / CDMA (10 Digit)

Landline / WLL

LOCAL RATES (Rs. / Min) 0.75 0.75 0.75

STD RATES (Rs. / Min) 1.5 1.5 1.5

ISD (Rs. / Min)

USA, Canada, Europe (Fixed Line), Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand.

6.4

Gulf, Europe (Mobile), SAARC countries, Africa & Rest of the world

9.2

Cuba, Sao Tome & Principe, Guinea Bissau, Diego Garcia, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Tuvalu, Tokelau, Norfolk Island, Sakhalin

40

SMS (Rs.)

Local 1

CDMA 1

National 1.5

International 5

VAS 3

Page 53: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel Out of Home Circle

We have established one of the most extensive roaming tie-ups - both national and

international- with the best service providers in the respective regions to ensure that

you get uninterrupted coverage throughout. We currently provide roaming coverage in

more than 1000 cities and major highways across India. We also provide international

roaming in 56 countries across 101 networks.

To get more information on our roaming coverage, click on the respective links:

National Roaming

Our national roaming coverage currently spans across more than a 1000 cities across

India. To subscribe to National Roaming, you have to pay the following:

Security Deposit- Rs 1500

Monthly Rental- Rs 49

National Roaming Tariffs:

Service categoryLocation

Distance(K

m)Charges(Rs.)

Outgoing

Within the roamed

Circle

M 2 M / PSTN / WLL Any 1.99

- 53 -

Page 54: Ritesh Airtel Report

Outside the roamed

Circle (STD)

M2M 0 - 200 1.99

> 200 2.99

M 2 PSTN/WLL 0 - 200 2.99

200 - 500 3.99

> 500 4.99

ISD Gulf 15.99

Rest of the World 15.99

Incoming

Any source Any distance 1.99

SMS

Mobile Originated 3

Mobile Terminated 0

Customer Care

Do you need any clarifications on your bills? Do you have any feedback or

query on our Products & services? You can call us, send us an E-mail or meet us in

person. We shall be glad to help you out in every possible way.

Contact us by phone

If you are on Airtel, just call us on 121 your Airtel Prepaid phone.

- 54 -

Page 55: Ritesh Airtel Report

If you are on Airtel postpaid, just call us on 121 from your Airtel Postpaid phone

These toll free numbers however, cannot be dialed when you are roaming.

Airtel launches “Music Messaging” service

Customers can dedicate songs along with their voice messages;

Airtel, one of the leading cellular operators in Maharashtra, Goa, and Daman & Due

and today announced the launch of a new innovative service called “Music

Messaging”. The service will allow music lovers to listen to the various songs and then

dedicate the same to any other Airtel mobile subscriber along with a personalized voice

message.

For using the service, the customer simply needs to dial 646 from his mobile

and follow the voice prompts. This will lead him to the options Hindi and English

songs. There are 10 songs under each option and the customer can either go on to listen

to the song clippings of 90 seconds each or move on to the next or previous song.

While listening to the song, the subscriber may choose to dedicate the song to some

other Airtel Subscriber after recording a 10 second long personalized voice message.

The music message will then be received by the person to whom it has been dedicated

as a Voice Message with the CLI of the sender. Once delivered, the message begins

with the sender’s voice message followed by a 30 second clip of the song that has been

dedicated. The charge for the service is just Rs 7/minute for a 60 second pulse.

- 55 -

Page 56: Ritesh Airtel Report

Announcing the launch of the service, Mr. N.F.Aibara, COO, Airtel-

Maharashtra said “The mobile phone today is no longer just a communication device.

Rather it is a driver of self-identity and creative pursuits especially for the youth

segment which constitutes about 70 % of the new customers that we enrol every month.

We have always sought to provide our customers with new and exciting services that

have been made possible through innovation and use of latest technology. The launch

of this new service is another step in the same direction as it enables customers to add a

musical edge to their messages-nothing can be more powerful than a message in one’s

own voice along with a song to suit the situation. I am sure this service will be liked by

all our customers and more specially the youth”

BHARTI CELLULAR FOOTPRINT

Bharti is to first achieve critical mass, then drill deep instead of spreading thin.

Thereafter, it is ready for controlled expansion.

In keeping with this, the company has been providing excellent service to its

subscribers in various states. It controls a portfolio of India's most attractive and

contiguous telecom geographies, including the states of Maharashtra (excluding

Mumbai), Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Delhi

(inclusive of NCR). With a footprint dominating the map of India, Airtel Cellular

accesses over 45% of India's

- 56 -

Page 57: Ritesh Airtel Report

total telephony potential. With the objective of critical mass achieved, Airtel Cellular

turned to drilling deep.

- 57 -

Page 58: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER 3

- 58 -

Page 59: Ritesh Airtel Report

OBJECTIVE OF THE STYDYo To study the consumer trends in telecommunication sector.

o To study consumer decision-making & preferences.

o To study marketing strategies adopted by Airtel.

o To study the level of customer satisfaction in Airtel.

o To study the market potential.

o To study customer purchase decision behaviour.

o To understand the needs of different consumer segments.

o Comparative study of different mobile companies.

o To know why some retailers don’t sell new connections of Airtel.

- 59 -

Page 60: Ritesh Airtel Report

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY:

Research problem:

To study consumer trends, behaviour, preferences and level of

satisfaction in Airtel communication Ltd. The study was conducted in Delhi with

sample size of 50 and sample units were suppliers and

Consumer of mobile connection

Research Objectives:

o To study the consumer trends in telecommunication sector.

o To study consumer decision-making & preferences.

o To study marketing strategies adopted by Airtel.

o To study the level of customer satisfaction in Airtel.

o To study the market potential.

o To study customer purchase decision behaviour.

o To understand the needs of different consumer segments.

o Comparative study of different mobile companies.

Research Design

The following methodology was adopted for the study purpose:

Type of research:

Descriptive and qualitative research design were used while conducting the project.

Sampling Design was taken by the researcher as the Research design.

- 60 -

Page 61: Ritesh Airtel Report

The major purpose of the study is to describe the state of affairs as it exists at present.

The study was based on the facts or information already available, & analysis of this

available information make a critical evaluation of the material.

Research Method/Technique:

In the project report the researcher used following techniques while conducting his

study:

Analysis of documents

Survey Method: A market survey was done on life insurance

companies.

Interview (Personal): Both open and closed ended (unstructured) questions

were asked while taking some information from the users of the cellular at

DELHI.

Questionnaire (Structured): A structured designed comprehensive questionnaire

was framed and pretested for data collection from the customer of mobile

Research Data

Data is the key activity of marketing research. The design of the data

collecting method is backbone of research design.

Data constitute the foundation of statistical analysis and interpretation.

Hence the first step in statistical work is to obtain data.

Data can be obtained from two important sources, namely:

1. Primary Data

2. Secondary Data

Primary Data:

- 61 -

Page 62: Ritesh Airtel Report

Primary data are gathered for the specific purpose or for a specific

research project, consist of original information for the fulfilment of project objective.

When the data are required for the particular study can be found neither in the internal

record of the enterprises nor in published sources. In some cases it may become

necessary to collect original data.

Primary data can be collected in four ways:-

1. Observation

2. Survey

Secondary Data:

Secondary data are the data, which already exists somewhere. Secondary

data provide starting point for research and after that the advantage of low cost and

ready availability. Secondary data can be divided into two types:

1. Internal data

2. External data

When researcher uses the data that has already been collected by other

data are called secondary data. Secondary data can be obtained from journals i.e.

internal sources report, government publication and books, professional bodies etc.

Internal data are reports and memos generated within an organisation to

facilitate its operations and annual report. External data are those specially produce for

outside consumption.

Sources from which the researcher has taken the secondary data are

as under:

- 62 -

Page 63: Ritesh Airtel Report

1. Direct observation

2. Airtel website

3. Books for marketing management

4. Surveys and customer data & report

5. Airtels customers care office

6. Airtel’s Brouchers

SAMPLE DESIGN

Area of Sample:

The areas covered up in this survey was DELHI

Selection of units under study

Sampling Units from DELHI were suppliers and

Consumer of mobile connection

Source list (Sampling Frame)

SUPPLIERS: 10

CUSTOMERS: 40

Sample size: 50

Sampling Procedure: Probability Sampling (Simple Random Sampling)

- 63 -

Page 64: Ritesh Airtel Report

LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

While working on this project I have to face some difficulties while conducting the survey.

People were not interested in giving there actual information about their family income and

airtime, as they were extremely scared about the income tax some people have difficult to

take them in confidence so that they can give correct information.

Some of the limitations are:

Not at home

Refusal to co-operate

Respondent bias

- 64 -

Page 65: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER 4

- 65 -

Page 66: Ritesh Airtel Report

“DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRATION”

(1) Do you have own mobile connection?

A. Yes B. No.

The data shows that the total sample size of 50 people taken for

research out of which 86% of persons keep mobile with them.

Sample size - 50

Having mobile Respondent

Yes 43

No 7

- 66 -

Page 67: Ritesh Airtel Report

(2) Which kind of phone you would like use?

The data shows that the total sample size of 50 people taken for

research out of which 50% of persons like to use land line phone and 30%

person like to use mobile and rest 20% person like to use WLL.

Sample size - 50

CONNECTION Respondent

LANDLINE 25

MOBILE 15

WLL 10

- 67 -

Page 68: Ritesh Airtel Report

(3) Which age group you belong to?(a) 15-20(b) 20-25(c) 25-35(d) 35- above

The analysis shows that 14% people from 15- 20 age group, 8% persons from 20-25 age group, 36% persons from 25-35 age group, and 42% of people from 35-above age group keep mobile with them.

Sample size - 50

Age Respondent

15-20 7

20-25 4

25-35 18

35-above 21

- 68 -

Page 69: Ritesh Airtel Report

(4) What occupation do you have?

(a) Business

(b) Professional

(c) Government Employee

(d) Student

The data shows that 50 persons are from, 23 persons are professionals, 16 persons are

Private and 5 persons are found retirement 6 person are government employee to

consume mobiles.

Sample size - 50Occupation Respondent

Professional 23

Private 16

Retirement 5

Government 6

- 69 -

Page 70: Ritesh Airtel Report

(5) Which connection would you prefer? (a) MTNL(b) Airtel(c) Orange/ Hutch(d) BPL (e) Reliance

When the preferences for mobile phone connections were asked, results drawn that 40% of persons prefer to take BSNL because they believe in BSNL’s better coverage & cheaper rates after BSNL, 20% of people opt Reliance services because of its cheaper rate and flexible schemes, then Airtel is only 25% but there is very high recommendation for its better connectivity. Airtel is rich in attractive schemes and plans for business persons and persons related to corporate world.

Sample size: 50Phone Connections Respondent

Airtel 20

BPL 8

MTNL 12

OTHERS 10

- 70 -

Page 71: Ritesh Airtel Report

(6) You would like to take prepaid connection or Post paid connection?

a. Prepaid

b. Post paid

The research study shows that almost people from the selected segment give

priority to Post Paid connection, because of the flexibility and attractive plans

for this market segment.

Sample size: 50Connection Respondent

Pre paid 40

Post paid 10

- 71 -

Page 72: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel market %

Competitor's market%

Airtel market%

Competitor's Market%

Airtel Lapu %

Competitor's Lapu %

Careter’s meeting Pt. 40% 60% 45% 55% 41% 59%Final Touch 67% 33% 45% 55% 45% 55%Naaz photo comm. 36% 64% 42% 58% 43% 57%Tone & melodies 45% 55% 43% 57% 40% 60%Milan comm. 38% 63% 43% 57% 38% 63%Aalamcomm. 45% 55% 57% 43% 29% 71%Vijay electronics 38% 62% 38% 63% 38% 62%Aman comm. 42% 58% 40% 60% 38% 62%Rose comm. 43% 57% 29% 71% 29% 71% TOTAL 45% 55% 43% 57% 37% 63%

- 72 -

Page 73: Ritesh Airtel Report

Outlet nameAirtel market

%Competitor's

market%Airtel

market%Competitor's

market%Airtel

Lapu %Competitor's

Lapu %

A 2 Z communication 43% 57% 40% 60% 33% 67%B.K.Marketing 64% 36% 50% 50% 40% 60%Santacruz mart 61% 39% 9% 91% 41% 59%

Mobile villa 68% 32% 27% 73% 44% 56%Vakola Mall 80% 20% 40% 60% 44% 56%

Matrix telecom 37% 63% 50% 50% 30% 70%Gupta Telecom 58% 42% 38% 62% 45% 55%Moon contacts 74% 26% 42% 58% 53% 47%

Mobile city 44% 56% 33% 67% 45% 55%Konkan electronics 58% 42% 38% 62% 43% 57%

TOTAL 61% 39% 24% 76% 43% 57%

- 73 -

Page 74: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel market %

Competitor's market%

Airtel market%

Competitor's market%

Airtel Lapu %

Competitor's Lapu %

Gala & sons 75.00% 25% 53% 47% 60% 40%Bharat telecom 75.00% 25% 45% 55% 45% 55%Praveen & sons 70.97% 29% 56% 44% 56% 44%Zarina general store 64.52% 35% 57% 43% 48% 52%Ravi communication 72.73% 27% 55% 45% 48% 52%Sai communication 75.00% 25% 45% 55% 44% 56%Quality inn 62.50% 38% 52% 48% 56% 44%Nirmals shop 76.47% 24% 48% 52% 60% 40%Andheri Shop 66.67% 33% 50% 50% 43% 57%

Total 72.27% 28% 49% 51% 54% 46%

- 74 -

Page 75: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel market %

Competitor's market%

Airtel market%

Competitor's market%

Airtel Lapu %

Competitor's Lapu %

Nair Gallery 55% 45% 45% 55% 33% 67%Poonam Art Gallery 50% 50% 44% 56% 43% 57%

Aman comm. 63% 38% 42% 58% 42% 58%Khar Internationals 44% 56% 33% 67% 31% 69%

Saif business 26% 74% 47% 53% 40% 60%Unique telecomm. 43% 57% 36% 64% 67% 33%

Antique Communications

54% 46% 54% 46% 43% 57%

Harmain Entp.. 56% 44% 42% 58% 43% 57%Orpat watches 56% 44% 56% 44% 29% 71%Sindhi Mobiles 45% 55% 40% 60% 38% 62%

TOTAL 50% 50% 43% 57% 40% 60%

- 75 -

Page 76: Ritesh Airtel Report

Airtel market %

competitor's market%

Airtel market%

competitor's market%

Airtel Lapu %

competitor's Lapu %

Magic gallery 46% 54% 40% 60% 31% 69%Photo world 40% 60% 40% 60% 35% 65%

Baba Telecom 42% 58% 63% 37% 36% 64%Gift Point 48% 52% 5% 95% 37% 63%Gift 4 U 36% 64% 45% 55% 29% 71%

Arco electronics 43% 57% 35% 65% 36% 64%Marlboro telecom 38% 63% 38% 62% 36% 64%

Star comm. 43% 57% 30% 70% 36% 64%Malik comm. 43% 57% 37% 63% 39% 61%

Highway international 44% 56% 29% 71% 38% 62%

TOTAL 43% 57% 38% 62% 35% 65%

- 76 -

Page 77: Ritesh Airtel Report

Amar enterprises

Golden tel.

Bharat stores

Kapil comm.

Plus Point comm.

Plaza comm.

New Star comm.

Kumail comm.

Juhu general store

Airtel prepaid connection stock

67% 58% 63% 71% 75% 73% 56% 50% 56%

Competitor's stock 33% 42% 38% 29% 25% 27% 44% 50% 44%Airtel coupon value 42% 40% 33% 33% 42% 40% 60% 40% 50%

Competitor's coupon value 58% 60% 60% 67% 58% 60% 40% 60% 50%Airtel Lapu value 45% 40% 50% 56% 48% 47% 42% 40% 38%Competitor's Lapu value 55% 60% 50% 44% 52% 53% 58% 60% 63%

- 77 -

Page 78: Ritesh Airtel Report

SALES OF DIFFERENT RETAILERS

S.No.Transforming

ValueDoing (New Sim)

5701. Ginny Telecom 3000/a day 10 / a month

2. Sodhi Selection 3000/a day 7 / a month

3. Krishna Enterprises 3000/a day 2 / a day

4. Balajee Medical Store 1000/a day Don't Sell Sim

5. Pastry Palace 500/a day Don't Sell Sim

6. Sutech Photostat 1000/a day Don't Sell Sim

7. Mobile Gallery 2000/a day 12 / a month

8. E-Zone 4000/a day 10 / a month

9. Vikas Teleco 1000/a day 5 / a month

10. Skyline Communication 1000/a day 5/ a month

11. Kohli Associates 5000/a day 12 / a month

12. Amit Cellnet Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

13. Sunrise Communication Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

14. Gurunanak Telecom 3000/a day 15 / a month

15. Lambawatch Service 5000/a day 4 / a day

16. Shri Balajee Communication 500 / a day 15 / a month

17. Bharija Telecom 1000/a day 4/ a month

18. Chabra Sons 1500 / a day 10 / a month

19. Gupta Telecom 3000/a day 3/a day

20. Goodluck Telecom 3000/a day 5/a day

21. Arora Telecom 5000/a day 2/a day

22. Baboo Music House 4000/a day 1/a day

23. Rincle Electronics 5000/a day 2/a day

24. Honest Telecom 3000/a day 1/a day

25. Prince Communication 2000/a week 2/a day

26. Jyoti Telecom 5000/a week 2/a day

27. Hari Telecom 3000/a day 1/a day

28. Bansal Communication 3000/a day 2/a day

29. Verma Communication 5000/a week 1/a day

30. Sunny Sound 2000/a day 1/a day

31. Diksha Network Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

- 78 -

Page 79: Ritesh Airtel Report

32. Gogia Telecom 7000/a month3/a month

33. Urvashi 3000/a day 2 /a day

34. Sharma Telecom 5000/a day 1/a day

- 79 -

Page 80: Ritesh Airtel Report

SOME OF THE OUTLETS THAT I HAVE COVERED

S.No.Transforming

ValueDoing (New Sim)

5711. Your's Shop 8000 / a week 2 / a week

2. Gaba Communication 6000 / a week 1 / a week

3. Gosain Electronics 20,000 / a week 4 / a week

4. Sant Bakers 10,000 / a week 2 / a week

5. Unique Communication 3000 / a week 1 / a week

6. Sukh Communication 3000 / a week 1 / a week

7. Arora Communication 3000 / a day 2 / a week

8. Balajee Communication 15000 / a week 10 / a week

9. Dase Enterprises 7000 / a week 3 / a week

10. Gift Corner 20000 / a week 5 / a week

11. Deepak Communication 2000 / a week Don't Sell Sim

12. Kalptaru Communication 3000 / a week 4 / a week

13. JMD Communication 3000 / a day 3 / a week

14. Hello Point 5000 / a week 2 / a week

15. Grover Communication 5000 / a week 1 / a week

16. Electronics Ways 20,000 / a week 15 / a week

17. Com-Com 15,000 / a week 7 / a week

18. Melhotra Telecom 35,000 / a week 7 / a week

19. Grover Car Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

20. Puneet Communication 4000 / a week Don't Sell Sim

21. Digital Age 3000 / a day 2 / a week

22. Bhawna Communication 3000 / a week 1 / a week

23. Anand Communication 3000 / a week 1 / a week

24. Vicky Communication 2000 / a day 1 / a week

25. B.S. Telecom 3000 / a day 2 / a week

26. Raju Telecom 6000 / a week 3 / a week

27. Noble Communication 9000 / a week 6 / a week

28. Sun Communication 5000 / a week 1 / a week

29. Tele Voice 3000 / a week 2 / a week

30. Asian Electronics 5000 / a week 4 / a week

31. Fine Computers 5000 / a week 1 / a week

- 80 -

Page 81: Ritesh Airtel Report

32. Kundan Property Don't Sell LapuDon't Sell Sim

33. Air Communication 5000 / a week 2 / a week

34. Melody 7000 / a week 2 / a week

35. Style Communication 5000 / a week 2 / a month

36. Apna Store Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

37. Jaishree harmilap 2000 / a week 2 / a month

38. Monu Studio 5000 / a week 1 / a week

39. Crazy Communication 2000 / a week 2 / a day

40. Chawla Telecom 3000 / a week 1 / a month

41. Bhola Telecom Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

42. Broadway Music 5000 / a month 1 / a month

43. Cellular Hut Don't Sell Lapu 4 / a month

44. Feeling Gift Point Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

45. Jai Ambe Fancy Store Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

46. Kiran STD Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

47. Kundan Properties Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

48. Ambika Telecom 2000 / a week 1 / Month

49. Manpreet Communication Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

50. Naveen Corner Don't Sell Lapu Don't Sell Sim

51. Neha Enterprises 2000 / a week 1 / a month

52. Royal Amar Watch 2000 / a week 1 / a month

- 81 -

Page 82: Ritesh Airtel Report

SWOT ANALYSIS OF AIRTEL

Strengths

INVESTOR’s FAITH:

Investor’s faith in Airtel that causes huge monetary support.

STRONG ADMINISTRATION:

Under the leadership of Bharti Cellular Ltd Airtel proved themselves as an well-organized &

administrative company.

BRAND NAME:

Airtel as a brand is the synonym of success. It is the largest private limited organization of

India.

Weakness

Lack Of Co-Ordination Between Deptt.

Lack of Choice of Good Pre-paid numbers like XXYY numbers like others providing.

Opportunity

favourable TARRIFS: Newly issued tariffs are suitable for Airtel so they can easily modify

their tariff plans according to it and gain customer attraction.

Threats

tough COMPETITION: Airtel has to face a tough competition with existing market leaders

like Reliance (Reliance is providing Free Outgoing also) Hutch, Idea, Dolphin and Trump.

- 82 -

Page 83: Ritesh Airtel Report

FINDINGS

Airtel FSO

FSO - Full Service Outlet

Basically for providing customer services in terms of their queries to build good relation with

customers to reach a point of customer satisfaction. Building good customer relation does not

only help in expanding sales but also helps in knowing the customer better and knowing the

customer further leads to acknowledgement of tastes & preferences of the customer.

One of the various ways to reach the customer is through franchisee. It helps the customer to

be in touch with a particular business. The franchisee should be at many places to build a

strong relation with all segments of customer. It must also have many customer executives so

that there are enough people to attend all customers and time can be saved. It leads to instant

help to the consumer to be happy and satisfied and the sole purpose of marketing "Customer

Satisfaction is achieved.

OUTLOOK OF THE FRANCHISEE :

The franchisee was having transparent glasses outside so that anybody can look in that its

open from outside from inside the franchisee was beautifully furnished with furniture. Most

of the things there was of Red, black and white colour which are colours of Airtel. The

franchisee was centrally air-conditioned and have all the necessary things which customer

needs like sufficient number of seats, drinking water etc.

- 83 -

Page 84: Ritesh Airtel Report

INTERACTING WITH THE CUSTOMER'S

All the customer's were treated well, when they enters the franchisee the executives greets

them. All the executives there listens the customer query very patiently and try there level

best to solve it they send the customer to the floor manager.

For eg.:

For the new connection - The executives first listening to the customer patiently (his needs

and preferences) than tell them postpaid and prepaid connection plans which most suited to

the customer and helps them to choose the best for them, on the basis of their budget, for

what purpose they are buying, how often he will use it etc.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY Franchisee:

New Postpaid and prepaid connection

New SIM issue

Duplicate SIM issue.

Coupons and Easy recharge (Value)

Bill deposit (In cash and cheque)

Solving Customer queries

Migration of prepaid connection to postpaid connection and vice versa

Name and Address change of postpaid connection

Activation of Roaming and STD

Bill details

Changing of plans

Disconnection of plan

- 84 -

Page 85: Ritesh Airtel Report

Mobile problems

Queries regarding broadband, GPRS

Queries regarding Land line phone

OBSERVATION:

The executives there were not fully aware of all plans. For eg. the executives was not aware

that Rs. 2,000 prepaid Connection in which the customer's get two years incoming validity

was still going on, he come to know about it when the customer said that he got a message

from Airtel today about this plan.

Customer's of new connection were very unhappy that there connection will be activated after

a weak.

Customer's were not satisfied with the Airtel services.

Customer care number doesn't connects easily, it takes a lot of time to connect some-times a

day to speak with executive.

Many fraud cases were coming.

Most of the people are opting for postpaid connection instead of prepaid connection postpaid

and prepaid connection plans which most suited to the customer and helps them to choose the

best for them, on the basis of their budget, for what purpose they are buying, how often he

will use it etc.

Most of the people were opting for Rs. 1399 advance rental plan of 2 years.

Many customers were demanding for corporate connection but the executives said that

individual connection of corporate is not possible; they should be atleast five connections.

People were very happy with add-on scheme of postpaid and also opting for it.

- 85 -

Page 86: Ritesh Airtel Report

The franchisee sells 7 to 9 postpaid and 3 to 5 prepaid connection daily.

Many customer's were coming for making adjustment in their bill plan or amount.

Many customer's were coming with the problem that the plan they are assigned was not opted

by them.

Radio-connectivity of their system was getting very slow again and again by which the

customer's were getting irritated.

The customer's who need prepaid connection were getting less preference in comparison to

the customer's who need postpaid connection.

The customers were very happy with Airtel scheme in which the customer can make the

payment through bank automatically every month by filling ECR form.

SUGGESTIONS:

There should be more customer care numbers and executives so that the problems of the

customers can be solved quickly.

They should have more space for payment.

The executives there should be given training time to time about new schemes and plans.

No phone calls should be attended while entertaining the customer.

Every executives should know his responsibility and work.

- 86 -

Page 87: Ritesh Airtel Report

RECOMMENDATION

The company should go ahead with aggressive marketing. They should light competition on

1. Awareness level.

2. Pricing strategy.

Thus, the recommendations fir these are as follows:

1. AWARENESS

(a) The company should sponsor local programs.

(b) The company should arrange briefing sessions at prominent clubs such as LIONS

CLUB and ROTARY CLUBS etc.

(c) The company should organize awareness quizzes through Newspapers, Magazines &

announce suitable rewards accordingly.

(d) The company should distribute, l eaflets of AIRTEL

Cellular in posh colonies of DELHI.

2. PRICING STRATEGY

(a) The company should look the strategies of the competitive companies.

(b) The company should try its level best to keep the price low as compare to competitors.

(c) The schemes should be updated as per the needs and occasions

- 87 -

Page 88: Ritesh Airtel Report

SUGGESSTIONS

(a) As the company have captured the western market they should retain the

customers

(b) Try to capture the nearest other markets nearby

(c) Occasional offers

(d) Proper billings to the post paid users

(e) Proper response to the customers on the helpline no. Or toll free nos.

(f) Roaming deposits should be reduced

FURTHER SUGGESTIONS

MATCH COMPETITORS SCHEMES.

COMMUNICATE THE SCHEMES TO Fos. AND RETAILERS DAILY.

BETTER NUMBERS IN PRE – PAID AS CUSTOMER REQUIRES CHOICE.

ENHANCE THE SERVICE IN AREAS WITH WEAK NETWORK.

COORDINATION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS MUST BE IMPROVED.

- 88 -

Page 89: Ritesh Airtel Report

“CONCLUSION”

“Good services is the way to retain the clients”

AIRTEL CONNECTIONS ARE SELLING BECAUSE OF BEST

NETWORK COVERAGE.

GOOD RELATIONSHIP OF FOS. & REATILER IS BEING HELPFUL IN

SELLING.

LARGE MARKET COVERAGE, EASY AVAILABILITY OF COUPONS.

CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER DOES NOT CONNECTS EASILY AND

EXECUTIVES THERE WERE ALSO NOT AWARE OF THE SCHEMES.

- 89 -

Page 90: Ritesh Airtel Report

CHAPTER5

QUESTIONNAIRE

- 90 -

Page 91: Ritesh Airtel Report

SURVEY OF AIRTEL

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are thankful to you for patronizing AIRTEL. We hope that you are satisfied

with the product and quality of the services offered by the Airtel. As there is always scope for

improvement, we would like to get your opinion in these areas.

I would, therefore, request you to kindly assist us in our efforts by sparing a little

time to give us your valuable feedback and suggestions in the feedback form below. Please

do not hesitate to inform us of any observation that you think may be relevant. We assure you

that we would try to come up to your expectations.

Name: ……………………………………………………………………………………

Sex :………………… Age:…………

Occupation: ..………………………………………………………………………..…………

Address: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Contact Number: +91989…………………

1. WHICH PRODUCTS OF AIRTEL THEY WERE SELLING AND WHICH NOT?__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

- 91 -

Page 92: Ritesh Airtel Report

2. WHY WERE THEY NOT SELLING THAT PARTICULAR PRODUCT. __________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

3. WHAT ARE THE DIFFICULTIES FACED DURING SELLING THE PRODUCTS.

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

4. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF STOCK MAINTAINED BY THEM.__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________

5. THEIR FEEDBACK IN COMPARISON WITH THE COMPETITORS.__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________

BIBLIOGRAPHY

- 92 -

Page 93: Ritesh Airtel Report

BOOKS

Marketing Management by Philip Kotler 9th Edition

Research Methods for management by Dr. S. Shajahan 2nd Edition

Principal & Practice of Management by L.M. Prasad, 4th Edition.

REFRENCES

AIRTEL’s reports

Books & magazine on mobile communication

WEBSITES & SEARCH ENGINE

www.airtelworld.com

www.bhartiteleventures.com

www.researchandmarket.com

www.info-shop.com

www.smartmobs.com

www.yahoosearch.com

- 93 -